Abstract: A hybrid electrical optical connector employing a push-pull plug receptacle combination. A hood structure protruding from the plug component of the connector simultaneously serves to ensure that the plug is properly rotationally oriented with respect to the receptacle prior to insertion, that the individual terminals are guided toward the respective terminal receiving channels, and that the plug is latched in place once fully engaged. A rigid armature allows the plug to be partially assembled and tested prior to final overmolding. In its final overmolded form the plug is impervious to the influx of contamination and can withstand a substantial amount of physical abuse. The inexpensive materials used in the construction of the plug and the ease of assembly yield a low cost plug well suited for use in conjunction with a disposable peripheral device.

Abstract: An optic fiber connection apparatus and method are provided which enables positioning of a lens or bead at the end of an optic fiber at a selected distance from the end of the contact or terminus while maintaining a closely controlled lateral position of the bead. The contact has a hole extending along its axis, with a cylindrical front portion of a diameter to closely surround the lens at the end of the optic fiber. In addition or alternatively, the hole that receives the fiber may have a diameter to closely surround the fiber, and a shoulder intermediate the contact front and rear end. The optic fiber can be slid within the contact to extend its end beyond the contact so a lens can be formed on the tip of the fiber. Thereafter the fiber is slid backward into the contact. The lens is slid backward or foward against a positioning tool to a final lens position forward of the shoulder.

Abstract: A contact retention arrangement for a fiber optic connector is disclosed in which the retention element for the ferrule connected to the fiber optic cable is formed or shaped with an integral spring which maintains mating ferrules in positive abutment with each other. The contact retention element may either be a contact retention clip mounted in the wall of the contact passage, or a retention clip carried by the ferrule. In the latter arrangement, the clip is designed so that it may be released from either the front or rear of the connector body. The contact retention arrangement may also be used in an electrical connector.

Abstract: An optic fiber connection system is provided which enables the forming of a lens or bead at the end of an optic fiber by an electric arc established between a pair of electrodes, which avoids degradation of the electrodes with use. The contact has a forward portion with a hole along its axis for receiving the optic fiber, and a cross aperture extending perpendicular to the hole to receive the end of the optic fiber. The forward portion of the contact is formed of a ceramic or other high melting temperature dielectric, to allow the electrodes to be widely spaced to avoid their degradation, without shorting out the electric arc.

Abstract: A fiber optic contact comprising a ferrule having an alignment sleeve mounted on its forward end so that the mating end face of the ferrule is positioned between the front and rear of the alignment sleeve. A releasable positive interlock is provided between the sleeve and the ferrule so that the sleeve may be removed for cleaning the mating end face of the ferrule, yet the sleeve will not be accidentally removed from the ferrule during use of the contact in a connector. Vent holes are provided in the intermediate region of the alignment sleeve so that dust or other particles in the sleeve will be forced out of the sleeve through the vent holes when the ferrule of a second contact is slid into the alignment sleeve to mate with the ferrule upon which the alignment sleeve is mounted.

Abstract: A system is provided for forming an end of an optical fiber into a lens, which produces a lensed fiber having an especially smooth lens surface and high strength near the intersection of the lens and the rest of the fiber. A lens is formed by establishing a pair of electrodes on opposite sides of a fiber end portion and establishing an arc between the electrode tips for a sufficient current and time to melt the fiber end portion into a lens, with the arc being repeatedly terminated and restarted at a rate of thousands of times per second.

Abstract: A fixture is provided which enables the rapid mounting of an optical fiber contact with its forward end at a predetermined position and orientation with respect to arc-creating electrodes. The fixture includes a frame with a vertical slot having a width greater than the diameter of the cylindrical contact, and a plurality of spring-biased plungers which enable the contact to be pushed sidewardly into the slot and which thereafter press the contact against the slot bottom. The contact can slide vertically along the slot and plungers until a stop on the contact abuts a corresponding stop on the fixture and an orienting pin on the fixture passes into a corresponding hole in the contact stop.

Abstract: A fiber alignment and retention device having an optical lens with a forwardly directed curved surface molded to a rearward extension having a vee-shaped groove for supporting an optical fiber. An abutment means comprises a vertical stop for positioning the fiber at a focal point of the lens and also includes an abutment gap containing an index matching adhesive for reducing refraction and attenuation of a transmitted optical signal. A heat sensitive shrink sleeve secures the fiber within the vee-shaped groove such that a terminal end of the fiber is aligned with the focal point of the lens. A clamp or spring finger may replace the shrink sleeve, and a first alternative embodiment includes a holding means having a cylindrical shaped rearward extension with longitudinal cutaway sections providing a spring tension for securing the fiber. A second alternative embodiment includes a lens with a rearwardly directed radiused surface for guiding and retaining the fiber.

Abstract: A fiber optic contact retention assembly in which a fiber optic contact has an annular groove formed in its body providing front and rear shoulders. An O-ring is positioned in the groove adjacent to the rear shoulder. The contact is radially slidably mounted into a slot in a supporting yoke. One shoulder of the contact engages the front of the yoke and the O-ring is compressed between the rear of the yoke and the rear shoulder of the contact so that the contact is firmly retained in a vertical position relative to the front face of the yoke for facilitating insertion of the contact into a guide member.

Abstract: An audible indicator is provided for a connector which indicates when the mating connector halves are fully interengaged. The indicator is activated by an actuating pin which is mounted within the interior of the connector body. Preferably, the actuating pin is slidable in a centrally located polarizing key for the connector.

Abstract: A clamp is disclosed for a fiber optic cable having metal strength members. The strength members are fed through axial slots in the forward end of an inner sleeve of the clamp and are wound helically around the inner sleeve. Thereafter an outer sleeve is crimped around the helically wound portions of the strength members and the inner sleeve to tightly secure the strength members to the sleeve.

Abstract: A combined fiber optic and electrical connector member is disclosed in which the metallic conductors of a cable coupled to the connector member extend through a hollow sleeve while the optical fibers of the cable are spirally wound around the sleeve in a flex chamber thereby reducing bend radiation losses through the fibers when the connector member is engaged with a mating connector member.

Abstract: A fiber optic connector is disclosed in which the cable strength member termination comprises inner and outer sleeves surrounding the cable. One of the opposed surfaces of the sleeves is disposed at an angle which opens rearwardly. A clamping ring is disposed between the sleeves. The strength member of the cable is folded back between the angular surface and the clamping ring so that when aa rearward axial load is applied to the cable, the strength member will become more tightly clamped.

Abstract: An actuated fiber optic connector is disclosed in which the plug and receptacle connector members are axially mated with the fiber optic ferrule in the plug connector member sliding into a V-shaped channel in the receptacle connector member with low insertion force to abut the receptacle fiber optic ferrule therein. A leaf spring is mounted in the channel. The plug connector member carries an actuating sleeve which engages a central portion of the leaf spring upon mating of the connector members urging the spring inwardly into the V-channel. The spring is constructed such that when it is actuated, the spring biases both the ferrules in the connector into abutting relationship.

Abstract: A fiber optic connector is disclosed in which a ring having a thin film stretched over its face is mounted in the connector between the mating faces of the optical fibers being coupled. Because of the thinness of the film, the film may have an index of refraction similar to, but not necessarily matching, that of the fibers. The ring may be removed from the connector to allow replacement of the film thereon.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting the lateral alignment of abutting optical fibers in a connector arrangement. A connector assembly having eccentric sleeves for effecting lateral alignment is shown. A light beam is introduced in an angle through the cladding of an optical fiber adjacent to its interface surface within one connector half. The light beam is launched into the fiber cladding at a plurality of angles using a light scattering bead of resin. The outside diameter of the ferrule assembly is concentric with the optical fiber and the connector shell externally, once the lateral alignment is effected. A termination fixture includes an objective lens which projects a magnified image of the optical fiber interface surface onto an aperture plate having an opening or window therein substantially the same diameter as the magnified optical fiber core, transmits substantially only light emitted from the cladding interface surface.

Abstract: A fiber optic ferrule is disclosed which utilizes three spheres that define a tricuspid interstitial space therebetween into which the end of an optical fiber is mounted. A collar is threadedly mounted on the forward end of the ferrule body. The collar embodies an inwardly extending lip which urges the spheres radially inwardly when the collar is threaded onto the body. A sleeve is threadedly mounted on the rear of the body. To terminate the ferrule to a fiber optic cable, the fiber of the cable is first inserted through the ferrule body into the interstitial space forwardly beyond the spheres. The sleeve is crimped onto the jacket of the cable. By the use of appropriate indicia on the sleeve and the ferrule body, the sleeve is located at a predetermined position axially on the body. Tension is applied to the fiber. Then the collar is threaded onto the body to contract the spheres inwardly and cleave the fiber at the tangency point of the spheres.

Abstract: An optical fiber connector assembly using eccentric ferrule centering means for adjusting the concentricity of the optical fiber interface end with respect to the connector body perimeter. The eccentric ferrule or ferrules are in the form of elongated sleeves with the innermost sleeve extending from the connector body end the greatest amount. An external crimp sleeve of a relatively soft malleable metal has a generally conical shape with internal step-tapered diameter to fit over the eccentric ferrule exposed ends. Once the concentricity alignment of the optical core has been effected by relative rotation of the eccentric ferrule members (sleeves), crimping of the soft metal sleeve to each eccentric sleeve exposed extremity fixes the relative rotational position of these ferrules preserving the concentric alignment of the optical fiber in the connector body.

Abstract: A fiber optic termination is disclosed in which an optical fiber is inserted into a ferrule having an annular groove formed in the wall of the bore passing through the ferrule adjacent to the forward mating end thereof. The forward end of the fiber is located in the bore adjacent to the groove and is heated in situ to form an enlarged spherical lens on the end of the fiber. The periphery of the lens extends into the groove to retain the fiber in the ferrule without the use of an adhesive.

Abstract: A connector for coupling a pair of single optical fibers is disclosed. Each contact of the connector utilizes three spheres of equal diameter defining a tricuspid interstitial space therebetween into which the end of a fiber is mounted. When a pair of contacts is mated in axial abutting relationship, the spheres in the mating abutting contacts nest with respect to each other, thereby precisely laterally aligning the optical fibers which are mounted in the interstitial spaces of the sets of spheres in the two contacts. A spring sleeve is mounted on a cap threaded onto the forward end of each contact body. The spring sleeve embodies three resilient fingers which urge the spheres inwardly and rearwardly under a controlled force determined by cooperating abutting shoulders on the threaded cap and contact body, thus avoiding the fracturing of an optical fiber mounted in the interstitial space between the spheres.